The European Union adopted new measures against Russia on Sunday 27 February. Three aspects are concerned: the use of the sovereign airspaces of EU members, the delivery of armaments to Ukraine and the authorization to broadcast Russian state media within the EU.
Financing and arms deliveries to Ukraine
The EU will finance the purchase and delivery of arms and other equipment to Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sunday, adding that it was a first for the Union.
Brussels will propose to the Twenty-Seven to use an emergency funding line from the EU “to provide Ukrainian forces with lethal weapons, as well as fuel, protective equipment and medical supplies”ending the “taboo that the Union does not supply arms to belligerents”said the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.
Closure of EU airspace to Russia
The sovereign airspaces of the 27 EU members will be closed to aircraft owned by Russians, registered in Russia or controlled by Russia, Ms.me von der Leyen. “They will no longer be able to land, take off or fly over EU territoryshe said. Including the private jets of the oligarchs. »
In recent days, several EU members had adopted this measure, including Poland, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. They had been joined by a large part of the countries of the Union this Sunday, before this collective decision was imposed at the end of the day.
Sputnik and RT, Russian state media, banned from the EU
Russian state media Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik are to be banned from the European Union, to prevent them from broadcasting their “lies” on the war waged by Moscow in Ukraine, announced Mme von der Leyen.
“We are going to ban the Kremlin’s media machine in the EU. State media Russia Today and Sputnik, and their affiliates, will no longer be able to broadcast their lies to justify Putin’s war and to sow division in our Union. We are therefore developing tools to ban their toxic and harmful misinformation in Europe.”said the European official.
New sanctions against Belarus
The EU has finally decided to take new sanctions against Belarus by banning exports of “largest economic sectors” of the Minsk regime, ” partner in crime “ of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, announced the President of the European Commission.
The sectors of hydrocarbons, tobacco, cement, iron and steel are concerned, specified the head of the European executive. Belarusian officials who “helped Russia” in its offensive in Ukraine are also subject to sanctions. Belarus is already under EU sanctions for cracking down on its opposition and hijacking a European plane to arrest a dissident.